ERUDIO student loans help

anna2007

chiefdave wrote: »

Haven't heard back from the ombudsman but I have had another letter from Erudio. Not sure if this is a result of contacting the ombudsman or because I emailed them and asked them to explain how they had reached their decision enclosing a copy of the SLC deferment guide that was posted earlier in this thread. The letter says they got it wrong, I am now deferred, have no arrears and will be getting compensation!

Great news ChiefDave

I think Erudio's backtrack is possibly more to do with FOS case fees, rather than acceptance of what's legally and morally right? If Erudio have reached case no. 26 at FOS, then it would cost them £550 for your FOS complaint, so make sure they pay you a decent amount of compensation! There's some interesting info on how the FOS is financed and their charges here:

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/QG1.pdf

Is the SLC deferment guide the same as the one from Whatdotheyknow? If so, it's months since it was posted here and will be lost in the thread, so probably worth posting a link again:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/225698/response/562041/attach/2/Deferments%20Reference%20Pack%20V13%20Redacted.pdf

Definitely a good idea to put this kind of stuff on a sticky/new thread (Fermi's post with the loan agreements might be a good place). What's the best way to do that, so people can easily find it, does anyone know?

anna2007

Jonez wrote: »

Gordon bleedin' Bennett - can they not even understand the difference between turnover and gross income and that by using the turnover figure they are counting expenditure as income?

I've no doubt they know the difference. The alternative is they really did hire in a group of trained monkeys (maybe even one little lone, inept monkey whose one aptitude is s/he can put on different human-sounding voices) to run the Erudio show...

Student1983

chiefdave wrote: »

Quick recap first, I'm self employed and do a self assessment tax return. SLC have always accepted that total income minus allowable expenses is the equivalent of a salaried persons gross income, which is correct, HMRC work on the same basis.

Of course Erudio don't agree and rejected my deferment application saying my income was above the threshold. So I put in an appeal which was rejected and then i referred to the financial ombudsman.

Haven't heard back from the ombudsman but I have had another letter from Erudio. Not sure if this is a result of contacting the ombudsman or because I emailed them and asked them to explain how they had reached their decision enclosing a copy of the SLC deferment guide that was posted earlier in this thread. The letter says they got it wrong, I am now deferred, have no arrears and will be getting compensation!

Seems to be a few people starting to get a positive response to their complaints, maybe someone who has some power has had words with Erudio about the volume of valid complaints being received.

Great news. I got the feeling that they were seriously told off as they couldn't have been nicer to me. Reckon those of us who have a legitimate right will be ok. I just need to reclaim my repayments and continue to fight for it. I did ask Bis to intervene but I have had no reply. Once xmas is over i will resume the battle. Have sadly had other child issues that have taken a precedence but that seems resolved so will be continuing to fight the right. I have had my loan written off but not confirmed in writing. I thank everyone on this forum for their help and I am happy to contribute to any legal expenses.

chiefdave

anna2007 wrote: »

Is the SLC deferment guide the same as the one from Whatdotheyknow? If so, it's months since it was posted here and will be lost in the thread, so probably worth posting a link again:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/225698/response/562041/attach/2/Deferments%20Reference%20Pack%20V13%20Redacted.pdf

That's the one, I emailed it to them and asked them to explain how they had calculated I was over the threshold and if that involved any changes to the way it was calculated previously who had authorised the change to the process.

Zingara

Well I thought my experience of Erudio would be over until May after I finally got my deferment sorted out. Wishful thinking!

In September I got my statement confirming what I would have expected saying I had no arrears on my account and everything was okay.

This morning I receive a "remedy of account" letter regarding the CCA which I haven't a clue what it is going on about. However,with that letter came a "Notice of Sum in Arrears" letter (dated June!). On re-reading the original letter it seems that I should have had this letter in June and didn't - but it doesn't make it at all clear whether or not I am still in arrears. Sneaky little blighters - if others have this I daresay a lot of people will be paniced into making a payment.

I think may be worthwhile putting in another complaint as I really did stress when I opened it and it is very misleading.

fermi

Jonez wrote: »

Gordon bleedin' Bennett - can they not even understand the difference between turnover and gross income and that by using the turnover figure they are counting expenditure as income?

Even Erudio are not that incompetent and clueless, and they set the bar pretty low on that score. Seems more like a deliberate ploy to see what they can get away with.

However, I imagine they will blame it on a few errant members of staff who will now receive "extra training".

Jonez

Zingara wrote: »

Well I thought my experience of Erudio would be over until May after I finally got my deferment sorted out. Wishful thinking!

In September I got my statement confirming what I would have expected saying I had no arrears on my account and everything was okay.

This morning I receive a "remedy of account" letter regarding the CCA which I haven't a clue what it is going on about. However,with that letter came a "Notice of Sum in Arrears" letter (dated June!). On re-reading the original letter it seems that I should have had this letter in June and didn't - but it doesn't make it at all clear whether or not I am still in arrears. Sneaky little blighters - if others have this I daresay a lot of people will be paniced into making a payment.

I think may be worthwhile putting in another complaint as I really did stress when I opened it and it is very misleading.

This is rather worrying. How have they managed to suddenly discover arrears on your account if none were previously indicated?

fermi

The CCA "remedy of account" relates to previous periods of arrears, that have likely been sorted out now.

See the CCA re mediation section here: http://www.erudiostudentloans.co.uk/faqs/default.htm

dizzybuff

Well the postman came today and dropped two arrears notices on my mat. One from July and one from October. Both in the same envelope. I am now apparently over 200 pounds in arrears yet my complaint is still with the ombadsman. I've justvtaken a panic attack as I can't afford this and I thought it was supposed to be suspended whilst complaints were with the ombadsman. Mine is also a cca notice.

anna2007

Zingara wrote: »

Well I thought my experience of Erudio would be over until May after I finally got my deferment sorted out. Wishful thinking!

In September I got my statement confirming what I would have expected saying I had no arrears on my account and everything was okay.

This morning I receive a "remedy of account" letter regarding the CCA which I haven't a clue what it is going on about. However,with that letter came a "Notice of Sum in Arrears" letter (dated June!). On re-reading the original letter it seems that I should have had this letter in June and didn't - but it doesn't make it at all clear whether or not I am still in arrears. Sneaky little blighters - if others have this I daresay a lot of people will be paniced into making a payment.

I think may be worthwhile putting in another complaint as I really did stress when I opened it and it is very misleading.

That sounds like the CCA remediation thing, more info here:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/loans/2014/07/hit-by-1990s-student-loans-blunder-check-for-erudio-packs-in-post

And here, under CCA remediation:

http://www.erudiostudentloans.co.uk/faqs/default.htm

Looked dodgy to me when it first came to light, and as you say, seems more like an attempt to confuse people into paying arrears when none are due.

When Erudio replied to my complaint on all of the errors in my annual statement, they said part of the interest was waived due to the CCA remediation letter they sent me in June... I never received this letter (and shouldn't, as I'm not affected by the CCA remediation issue).

They're clearly at it... all I want is an accurate statement showing the correct amount of interest, and they can't even get that right. I'm taking it to FOS (once my first FOS complaint is concluded), and you should definitely do the same. Why should any of us have to put up with/get stressed out by Erudio's incompetence and/or underhand tactics?!


Edit: X-post with Fermi, sorry!